Leathery Turtle Dermochelys coriacea (L.) in Co MayoAuthor(s): Dave WallSource: The Irish Naturalists' Journal, Vol. 27, No. 11 (2004), p. 444Published by: Irish Naturalists' Journal Ltd.Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/25536582 .

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Ir. Nat J. Volume 27 No 11 2004

Table 1. Differences between Timmia norvegica and T austriaca.

_> , , Transverse section o Back of nerve near 0. ... . ,. r . . ,

Species . , Sheathing leaf base of nerve in basal r

leaf apex * . r. , ^

part of leaf

Timmia ~ ... . .. Pale brown, cells Dorsal stereid band Papillose, no teeth .?

norvegica r

papillose present

Timmia Not papillose, a few Orange-red, cells No dorsal stereid austriaca teeth present smooth band

Much Timmia norvegica J. E. Zetterst. was seen on the Benbulbin massif during a

survey of rare bryophytes in Co Sligo organized by the National Parks and Wildlife Service in June and July 2003, but thorough searching failed to produce any T austriaca. Subsequently, both specimens (Wallace's in BBSUK and Hegewald's in MO) were examined, and appeared to be identical with T. norvegica. Ron Porley also kindly examined Hegewald's specimen and confirmed that it is indeed T. norvegica. No other specimens of T austriaca are known from

Ireland, and consequently the species must be deleted from the Irish list.

Species differentiation in Timmia can be difficult, and it may be that the characters separating T. norvegica from T. austriaca were not so well-established in 1970 as they are

today. Important points of differentiation are shown in Table 1.

Specimens examined:

"Timmia austriaca', Benbulbin Mountain and Kings Mountain, 12 September 1970, E. and P.

Hegewald 2698. MO.

Timmia austriaca', crevices of rocks, east-facing crags, Ben Bulben, 12 September 1970, E.

C. Wallace, BBSUK.

My thanks to Sally Whyman (National Museum and Gallery of Wales (BBSUK)) and Bob Magill (Missouri Botanical Garden (MO)) for the loan of specimens, Ron Porley for

confirming the identification of Hegewald's specimen and Neil Lockhart (NPW) for arranging and managing the Co Sligo bryophyte survey contract.

Nick Hodgetts

55 Norton Street, Grantham, Lincolnshire, NG31 6BX

Turtle Notes

Leathery turtle Dermochelys coriacea (L.) in Co Mayo The remains of a leathery turtle Delmochelys coriacea (L.) were discovered on the

strand at Rinroe Point, Co Mayo (F8140) on 27 October 2002. They were lying high on the strandline and consisted of a section of carapace 1.68m in length which was well weathered and had probably been there for some time. Despite a thorough search of the area no further

parts of the turtle were found.

The large size, characteristic lateral ridges and the lack of overlapping plates enabled the remains to be identified as a leathery turtle.

Dave Wall

Irish Whale and Dolphin Group, 84 Rockfield Avenue, Terenure, Dublin 12

AAA

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